How to Post on Instagram from Gallery

Learning how to post on Instagram from your phone’s gallery is a foundational skill for any creator, marketer, or brand. It’s the gateway to sharing your best photos, videos, and creative ideas with the world. This guide provides clear, step-by-step instructions for posting every type of content - from a single image to dynamic Reels and interactive Stories - directly from your camera roll.

How to Post a Single Photo or Video from Your Gallery

This is the classic Instagram post. It’s what started it all, and it’s still a powerful way to share a single, high-impact moment. The process is straightforward, but a few key details can make a big difference.

Step 1: Open the Instagram App and Tap the Create Icon

Get started by opening the Instagram app. At the bottom of your screen, you’ll see a navigation bar. Tap the plus sign [+] icon located in the center. This is your universal "create" button that opens up all the content options.

Step 2: Select "Post" and Access Your Gallery

After tapping the create icon, a new menu will appear. Here, you can choose what you want to create: Post, Story, Reel, or Live. For a standard feed post, select Post. Instagram will immediately open a view of your phone’s camera roll or gallery, starting with your most recent photos and videos.

Step 3: Choose Your Photo or Video

Scroll through your gallery to find the photo or video you want to share. Simply tap on it to select it. A blue checkmark will confirm your selection, and a larger preview will appear at the top of the screen.

Step 4: Adjust the Crop and Aspect Ratio

By default, Instagram may crop your image to a square (1:1 aspect ratio). To change this, look for the frame icon (it looks like two overlapping corners) in the bottom-left corner of your photo preview. Tapping this will toggle between the default square crop and the original aspect ratio of your photo.

Pro-Tip: For best results on the feed, aim for a 4:5 portrait orientation. This takes up the most vertical space on a user's screen as they scroll, grabbing their attention more effectively than a square or landscape photo.

Step 5: Edit Your Content (Optional)

Once you’re happy with the crop, tap Next in the top-right corner. This brings you to the editing screen. Here, you have two tabs:

• Filters: You can apply one of Instagram’s built-in filters for a quick edit. Tap a filter to see a preview, and tap it again to adjust its intensity with a slider.
• Edit: For more control, tap the "Edit" tab. Here, you can manually adjust brightness, contrast, saturation, sharpness, and more. This is where you can fine-tune your image to perfection without relying on a pre-made filter.

Step 6: Write Your Caption and Add the Final Touches

After your edits, tap Next one more time. You’re now on the final screen before publishing. This is a critical step:

• Write a caption: Tell the story behind your photo, ask a question to drive engagement, or share a valuable insight.
• Tag people: Tap “Tag People” to tag other Instagram accounts in your photo.
• Add topics: You can select up to three relevant topics to help Instagram show your content to a new audience.
• Add location: Adding a location can increase visibility, especially for local businesses or travel content.
• Add music: Tap "Add Music" to select a trending track or a song that fits the mood of your post.

Once everything is set, tap Share in the top-right corner, and your post will be live on your feed.

How to Post a Carousel with Multiple Photos and Videos

A carousel post, or a swipeable gallery of up to 10 photos and videos in a single post, is perfect for storytelling, showing a process, or sharing a collection of moments. It's one of the most engaging formats on the platform.

Step 1: Tap the "Select Multiple" Icon

Start just like you would for a single post by tapping the [+] icon and selecting Post. In your gallery view, look for a small icon of layered squares on the right side of the photo preview. Tap this “Select Multiple” button.

Step 2: Choose Your Photos and Videos in Order

You can now tap on up to 10 photos and videos. As you select them, a number will appear on each thumbnail indicating its order in the carousel. The first item you select will be numbered ‘1’ and will be the first image people see. You can go back and tap to deselect an item if you change your mind.

Step 3: Edit Your Carousel Items

After selecting your media, tap Next. Instagram gives you two ways to edit:

• Apply one filter to all: Choosing a filter at the bottom will apply it uniformly to every photo and video in your carousel.
• Edit each item individually: To make specific edits, tap on the individual image or video in the preview. The editing tools will then apply only to that single piece of media. This allows you to crop one photo differently or adjust the brightness of just one video.

Step 4: Finalize and Share

When you're done editing, tap Next. Write your caption, add your tags and location just as you would for a single post, and then hit Share. Your multi-image post is now live!

How to Post a Reel from Your Gallery

Reels are short-form vertical videos that are essential for modern Instagram growth. You don't need to film directly in the app, some of the best Reels are crafted from pre-existing clips you have saved in your gallery.

Step 1: Open the Reels Creator

Tap the [+] icon at the bottom of the screen and select Reel. This will open the Reels camera interface.

Step 2: Access Your Gallery Videos

Look to the bottom-left corner of the Reels editor. You'll see a small square preview of your most recent camera roll item with a plus sign on it. Tap this icon to open your full phone gallery. You can then select a single video or tap the "Select Multiple" icon (the layered squares) to choose several clips to stitch together.

Step 3: Trim and Edit Your Clips

Once you’ve selected your video(s), you'll proceed to the Reels editor. Here you can:

• Trim each clip: Tap "Edit video" at the bottom to enter a timeline view where you can drag the ends of each clip to shorten it or tap "Reorder" to change the sequence.
• Add Music: Tap the music note icon to search Instagram’s massive library of songs and audio clips. Choosing trending audio can significantly boost your Reel's reach.
• Add Text, Stickers, and Effects: Use the icons at the top to add text overlays, polls, GIFs, or AR filters to make your Reel more visually interesting and interactive.

Step 4: Choose a Cover photo and Write a Caption

After editing your Reel, tap Next. This is the final share screen. Don’t skip these important steps:

• Edit cover: Your cover photo is the first thing people see on your profile grid and the Reels tab. Tap "Edit cover" on the video preview. You can either scrub through the video to find a frame you like or tap "Add from camera roll" to upload a separate, compelling cover photo.
• Write a caption: Write a caption that hooks the viewer and adds context. Hashtags are especially important for Reels discovery.
• Share to Feed: Make sure the "Also share to Feed" toggle is turned on. This ensures your Reel will appear on your main profile grid, reaching your existing followers more effectively.

Finally, tap Share. Your Reel is now live!

How to Post a Story from Your Gallery

Stories are casual, 24-hour content formats perfect for behind-the-scenes glimpses, polls, and connecting with your audience on a more personal level.

Step 1: Open the Story Creator

There are two primary ways to access the Story creator:1. Swipe right from your main Instagram feed.2. Tap on your own profile picture in the Stories bar at the top of your feed.

Step 2: Access Your Gallery

Similar to the Reels editor, the Story camera will open with a gallery preview in the bottom-left corner. Tap it, or simply swipe up anywhere on the screen, to open your full camera roll.

Step 3: Select Your Photo or Video

Tap the photo or video you want to post. If you select a video longer than 60 seconds, Instagram will automatically break it down into multiple Story segments.

Step 4: Get creative with Interactive Features

The beauty of Stories is in the interactive elements. After selecting your media, tap the sticker icon (a smiling square) at the top of the screen to add features like:

• Polls, Quizzes, and Q&,As: Get direct feedback from your audience.
• Music: Add a soundtrack to your Story to set the mood.
• Link Sticker: Drive traffic to your website, blog, or product page.
• GIFs and Stickers: Add personality and visual flair.

You can also use the drawing and text tools to customize your Story further.

Step 5: Share Your Story

Once you’ve decorated your Story, tap the Your Story button at the bottom-left. Your photo or video from your gallery is now live for your followers to see for the next 24 hours.

Final Thoughts

Mastering the art of posting from your gallery across all of Instagram’s formats - Feed, Carousels, Reels, and Stories - is the key to executing a well-rounded and engaging content strategy. Each format serves a different purpose, and knowing how to upload your best content effortlessly into each one opens up endless creative possibilities.

Here at Postbase, we believe that creating amazing content is only half the battle, the other half is planning and sharing it consistently without the overwhelm. After you've edited those perfect photos and videos in your gallery, our visual calendar helps you see your entire content plan at a glance. We built a tool that lets you schedule all your gallery content - Reels included - far in advance, ensuring you never miss a post, and stay top-of-mind with your audience, all without a last-minute scramble.